Loose-leaf binder



April 1, 1952 c. J. BRQADHURST LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 sums-'SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1947 April 1, 1952 c. J. BRoADHuRsT LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 SHEETS-'SHEET z Filed Sept. 24, 1947 Patented Apr. l, 1952 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Charles John Broadhurst, Oxford, England Application September 24, 1947, Serial No. 775,781 In Great Britain September 25, 1946 2 ciaims. (c1. 12s-1) This invention relates to loose leaf bindts and like devices in which a plurality of rings or arches or the like are provided to engage spaced apertures adjacent the marginal edges of the leaves or sheets to be held together and has for its object to provide an improved construction of binder having open or jointless rings or arches by which a sheetor sheets can be inserted or withdrawn from any position without the rest of the sheets being disengaged from the binder.

In accordance with the invention the open or jointless rings or arches are arranged in two sets disposed towards opposite ends of the binder either on a common spine or on separate spines with one set operable independently of the other and the binder is provided with means for detachably securing the opposite ends of the spine or of the spines in position whereby each set of the rings or arches may be disengaged from the sheets or leaves in turn for removal or insertion of a sheet while the other set is held in closed position retaining the sheets.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate one embodiment, Fig. 1 being a fragmentary view of a binder withthe device mounted Valong its back, Fig. 2 a section on the line Z-Z perspective views ofone end of the device in closed and open positions respectively.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of a modification of the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

Fig. 10 a perspective view of a portion cf a spine in which a spring is employed to add flexibility to or replace flexibility in the spine.

Fig. 11 is another fragmentary view of a construction.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figsfl to 3, on the back A of the binder are mounted two spines B and C respectively, extending parallel to one another approximately the whole depth of the binder, the spine B being anchored to the binder at one end by a rivet D or the like and releasably secured to the binder at the other end by a pivoted clip E adapted to embrace the end of the spine, While the spine C is rings or arches F on the spine B are located towards the releasable end of that spine while the rings or arches F' on -spine C are located towards the releasable end of the latter spine, the rings or arches F having their openings G facing one way as shown in Fig. 3 and the rings or arches F' on the other spine facing the other way. The arches or rings may, however, open towards the same direction.

In this construction in order to remove a sheet from the pile of sheets H in the binder the clip E holding the one end of the one spine, say spine B, is swung aside into the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby releasing that end and the rings or arches F attached thereto are raised with this end of the spine as indicated in Fig. 3, 'to disengage the one set of apertures in the sheets. When the sheet Ato be withdrawn has been moved at that end clear of the arches F this spine is returned to its closed position and then again anchored to the binder to lock the remaining sheets by swinging the clip into engagement with its free end. The sheet so far partly withdrawn is then turned over and the other spine C is released in similar manner at the other end, the rings or arches F attached thereto raised with the spine C and the other set of holes in the sheets disengaged and this end of the sheet is then moved clear of the arches F', thus being released from the arches F and F' and thus completely freed from the device. A sheet is inserted in the binder by raising one set of rings or arches, placing that end of the sheet in position, returning the raised set of rings or arches into the closed position thereby engaging this set of holes in the sheet, turning over the partly inserted sheet releasing the other set of rings or arches, placing in position the end not yet engaged of the sheet, returning the raised set of rings or arches to the closed position, thereby engaging the second set of holes in the sheet, the two spines being locked in closed position on completion of the action.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 which is shown, and may be used, without a binder or cover, each spine B and C has at one end a releasable securing means vin the form of a hinged catch E3 and E4, respectively. In this embodiment in which both sets of arches F? and F'3 have their open ends in the same side the sheets are detached from and replaced in the device in the manner above described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 except that the sheet to be inserted or withdrawn need not be turned over from one side to the other midway of the inserting or withdrawing operation. The device is shown as provided with a connecting bar K, to the turned ends of which the spines B and C' are attached respectively by rivets D2 and D3. The open ends of the arches F2 and li3 may pass beneath the bar K in order that these open ends should be below the level of the bottom sheet when the arches are in the closed position. This connecting bar may be separate from the device when the latter is mounted on a binder.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 which can be used without a binder or cover, a single spine B2 only is used which carries the two vsets of arches F4, F5. This spine B2 consists of two half spines yhinged together at L midway of their length. The releasable securing means consist of spring clips E5, E5 riveted to the binder or cover if used and frictionally engaging the ends of the two half spines. A connecting bar K may be used as shown for the purpose described with reference to Fig. 4, the bar in order to retain its position in relation to the spine being Ypreferably connected with the spine by an ex- -tension ofthe hinge pin..

In the construction of device shown in Figs. 6 to 8 which is shown Awithout a binder or cover, the `spine B3 carrying arches F5 is secured at one .end to a plate :N anchored by rivets O to the binder at one end thereof while the other spine C3 vcarrying arches F7 is secured to a plate N anchored .by rivets .O to the binder a-t ythe other end. The securing means in this case consists of 'hinged .clips El, E2 'hinged vto the plates N, N' which clips may be vswung into position to lock the spines and their associated arches as shown in Fig. 7, or swung aside to release 4the spines as shown in Fig. 8. -The mode of using this form of the device is the same as that Adescribed with reference :to Figs. l to 3, the exibility of the spines B3 and C3 permitting flexing of one end of .one spine at a time sufllcient to bring the overlying `ends of the prongs out of the perforations in the paper. lThe device may be used without a binder or cover.

In the modication illustrated in Fig, 9 each plate N2 is formed 4with a hinge R so that the spine B4 to which it is secured can be raised about the hinge to Vrelease the arches associated with that spine.

In Fig. l the -plate N2 is shown vas provided with .a resilient extension secured to the spine B providing it with flexibility.

A.As will be understood from the fragmentary illustration of Fig. v11 each spine B6 and C6 may be anchored at one end to a plate N4 riveted by rivet O4 to the binder or cover (not shown). The spine B6 carries one or more arches F2. In the plates are mounted turn buttons E9 which serve as the spine securing means.

I claim:

l. A loose leaf holder comprising in combination a pair of substantially parallel spine members, a plurality of jointless sheet-engaging members mounted on each of Vsaid spine members, said sheet-engaging members being in two sets, one set being disposed towards one end of one spine member and the other disposed towards the opposite end of the other spine member, anchoring means for anchoring the two spine members at ends remote from one another, and means for releasably securing them at the ends remote from their anchorage whereby each spine may be raised in turn about its releasable end with its set of sheet-engaging members to allow for partial release or insertion `of sheets while the sheets are held by the other set of sheet-engaging members on the other spine member.

2. A loose leaf holder comprising in combination a pair of substantially parallel flexible spine members, a plurality 0f jointless sheet-engaging members mounted on each of said spine members, said sheet-engaging members being in two sets one set being disposed towards one end of one spine member and the other disposed towards the opposite end of the other spine Amember, means for anchoring Athe two spine members at ends remote from one another, and means for releasably securing them at ends remOle from their anchorage whereby each spine may be flexed in turn about is anchoring means to raise the set of sheet-.engaging means mounted thereon clear of the sheets to allow for partial release or insertion of sheets .while the `sheets are held by the other set of sheet-engaging `members o n the other spine member.

CHARLES JOHN BROADHURST.

REFERENCES vCITED The following references are of record 1in ythe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES 4.PATENIS 

